Congress has passed the most substantial tax reform package
since the Reagan administration.
All of Louisiana’s republican congressional delegation voted for the bill,
which has an estimated cost of 1.5 trillion dollars. U.S. Representative Ralph Abraham of Richland Parish says it will mean more money in people’s pockets.

Louisiana's U.S. Republican Senators voted for a tax reform bill approved on a 51-49 vote. Senator Bill Cassidy says it will cut taxes for working families in Louisiana. John Kennedy says the non-partisan Tax Foundation says Louisiana will see an increase of 12,000 jobs and the average family will gain $1,800 in after-tax income.

The Louisiana Budget Project has studied Governor John Bel Edwards’ tax plan and has determined 95% of Louisianans would receive a tax cut. LBP Executive Director Jan Moller says the top 5% of wage earners would pay higher taxes. More

Now that the special session is over, attention turns to the fiscal session that begins in April. The Louisiana Budget Project has released its tax reform blueprint. Senior Policy Analyst Nick Albares says we need a tax system that is fair, adequate, competitive, timely, and sustainable. He says one way to do that is to eliminate the federal income tax deduction, which is a credit only two other states offer.More

A report from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities finds Louisiana has one of the biggest wage gaps between its richest and poorest residents. Director of the Louisiana Budget Project Jan Moeller says the Bayou State has the fourth highest rate of income inequality in the country. Moeller is not surprised by the finding.More

New census data shows that more Louisianans than ever before are now covered by health insurance. Director of the Louisiana Budget Project Jan Moller says this is great news because for the longest time, Louisiana had one of the highest uninsured rates in the country.More

According to the latest U.S. Census data, Louisiana had the third
highest rate of poverty in the country for 2014, just below 20 percent. Jan
Moller, Director of the Louisiana Budget Project, says he hopes the
gubernatorial candidates will create plans to reduce poverty in the state
because it’s often a topic that gets swept under the rug.More

Today and tomorrow members of the public will have a chance to lobby before the House Appropriations Committee about what they would like to see funded in next fiscal year's budget. Because of a $1.6 billion dollar shortfall, money is tight and several government services are facing massive cuts.